Preserving energy and saving costs

Gulf News: What are the environmental challenges faced by governments in the region?

Sekhar: There is no substitute for austerity in consumption of critical utilities such as water and power.

Desalination consumes energy and results in pollution. Power generation is polluting too, and dries up resources. It is time we woke up to these harsh realities.

The relative nascent state of the Gulf economy gives it this huge advantage of being able to learn from the mistakes of others.

Gulf News: How can we cut down consumption or conserve resources?

Sekhar: Solutions are aplenty. In all the new buildings, more than 60 per cent of water gushing out of faucets and showers can be saved by some very low-priced attachments.

While many individuals and organisations show an inclination to use these devices, lack of recommendation on the exact products and the basis of their selection results in them ending up with wrong choices.

Almost all the new large civil and industrial developments in the region have a potential for re-using treated sewage. Here again, what is most important is creating awareness.

On the energy front, it is possible to save at least 25 per cent on the major lighting loads. The devices which make that possible pays for itself in as little as one year's time.

There are also innovative concepts to save energy on air-conditioning which accounts for bulk of the power produced in the region.

Gulf News: What are the new technologies that can impact the region?

Sekhar: Of course, there are many. But the most sought after solution when it comes to building a 'large plant in a small area' is the patented Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technology from Scandinavia, which drastically cuts down the size of sewage and effluent treatment plants.

The MBBR technology has the added advantage of being the ideal solution for augmenting capacity of existing plants within a short span of time without or with very little civil work.

Gulf News: What do you offer as a total environmental engineering solutions provider?

Sekhar: By our actions, we could be causing damage to water, air or soil or to all three. It is in this context we should possess expertise in all areas which are related to pollution mitigation and environment-friendly development.

We assist clients with advice and guidance on construction of Green Buildings and in matters which are related to Clean Development Mechanism and trading in Carbon Credits.